Arrest of Francis 'Two Gun' Crowley

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Friday, August 28, 2009

Eighty-six years ago today. New York City lost it's most notorious gangster of the time. Nathan Kaplan a.ka. the Cisco Kid...wait thats not right, it's Kid Galahad...no that's an Elvis movie; let me check my notes....ah, there it is Kid Dropper! That's it, the prime suspect in yesterdays murder, and the terror of the Lower Eastside, was gunned down as the exited the Essex Market Courthouse by a young punk named George M. Cohan...wait thats not right. It was singer/author Leonard Cohen...hold on let me check my notes....Louis Cohen, thats it! Louis Cohen was put up to the job by Kid Droppers arch nemesis Little Feet, I mean the Little Rascals, oh hold on, I really should prepare myself better....Little Augie Orgen thats it. With the demise of the Dropper, Little Augie rose to the top of the lower Eastside gangster heap, but you already knew that.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Eighty five years ago this evening Seventeen-year-old Alex Schnite told his father that he had a date and left the family flat at dusk. Around 11:00pm he was standing against a wall on the lower eastside when three men approached him. While Schnite was looking in the opposite direction one of the trio shot the teen twice in the back and the side. Schnite fell to the ground and another of the guys unclasped a knife and slashed his jugular vein. Schnite rolled over to shield himself from another blow and the knifeman stabbed him in the back before escaping with the others in a waiting taxi.

Numerous people were in the vicinity when the crime took place and some ran to Schnite’s home and informed his parents. Alex was removed to the hospital where he arrived DOA. His father said that his son had told him he was going on a date and then breaking down he mentioned that Alexander had told him that he had had some trouble with members of “Kid Dropper’s” gang.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Felix Deegan's family said he wasn't a gangster but when he was found dead 85- years ago today they said that the two bullets pumped into his head and the other two fired into his chest were the result of a gang feud. Odd? Oh, and he also had a .38 on him.

Deegan was last seen alive at 10:30pm when a cop came across him and five other guys and they were all arguing. Deegan was drunk so the cop told him to go home whilst shoeing away the other guys. Deegan didn't go home though, instead Felix the cat hungout and regrouped with the five men. An hour later the cop responded to four gunshots and saw the five amigos pile into a cab and drive off leaving Deegan knocking on Heaven's door. Heaven answered on the way to the hospital.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Twenty-five year old Peter Whalen was a Brooklyn rum runner with a police record dating back to when he was eleven. When he was fifteen he got busted for stealing pigeons (even back then the bird was the word) before moving up to grand larceny by the time Prohibition rolled around. Eighty-seven years ago today Peter was standing on a corner when a man appeared in a doorway and unleashed a volley of bullets at him. With one of those bullets in his heart Peter ran a block before dropping dead.

Monday, August 10, 2009

You'd think that only gangters made up the criminal organization knows as Murder Inc. but not according to their death certificates.

For example on March 4, 1944 the state of New York electrocuted, not organized crime figures, but a hat salesman and clothier by the names of Emanuel "Mendy' Weiss and Louis Buchalter.

The blue collar sect also lost a couple of their own when "laborers" Harry Maione & Frank Abbandando were executed on 2/19/42. This hard working pair had no distinct skill but would work in "any" industry. Sounds like a couple of guys just trying to make ends meet.

the I.B.E.U. lost one of their own when electrician Martin "Buggsy" Goldstein was, ironically killed by electricity, along with apparent slacker Harry Strauss whose occupation was "unknown."

Not one gangster in the group. Unless, perhaps they lied? Which is possible but if you're going to be executed aren't you gonna come up with a whopper of an occupation?

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About Me

Author of: On The Spot: Gangland Murders in Prohibition New York City 1930-1933, Hollywood on the Spot: Crimes Against the Early Movie Stars, Legs Diamond: Gangster. Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935. Notorious New Yorkers: Two Gun Crowley. Notorious New Yorkers: The Bobbed Haired Bandit. Notorious New Yorkers: Vivian Gordon.